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Improve your soilPlants need good soil conditions if they are to give the best results. Improving the soil with plenty of organic matter in the form of compost helps drainage and aeration on heavy soils and conserves essential moisture on light ones

Grow garlicGarlic is a key ingredient in much of our cooking and nothing beats the flavour of a home-grown crop. It needs a long growing season in the UK so the key to success is early planting, between November and the New Year.Cover soil

and topiaryCut laurel hedgesAround the gardenMake earwig traps with straw in upturned pots on canesPrune pyracantha and train shoots to supports Prepare soil to plant evergreen shrubsFlowersPrune old fruited stems of raspberries down to soil level Pinch out

Grow early strawberries Enjoy delicious home-grown strawberries at least four weeks before you pick them from the garden, by bringing some plants into a cool greenhouse or conservatory. Planted in a large container or hanging basket, just three

which are available in a wide range of colours. And they couldn't be easier to grow.Cover soil with polythene sheets to keep it dryKeep your Christmas tree outside in a bucket of waterWash cloches and cold framesAround the gardenClear away annual

Grow dahlias from seedColourful dahlias make a welcome addition to the late-summer garden and will continue to flower until the first frost. While many dahlias are grown from tubers planted in May, you can also raise them from seed.Knock heavy snow

Raise new mint plantsIf you're already dreaming about sipping a cool mint julep in your summer garden, now's the time to get your mint plants ready for the job. Take cuttings from established mint plants to keep the drinks tray supplied all summer

lawn and help keep it looking its best.Replenish gravel and grit mulches around alpine plantsPut slug barrier products around the tender new shootsDig plenty of compost into heavy clay soilsAround the gardenSprinkle granular fertiliser round roses

Build a compost binStart adding homemade compost to your soil and you'll not only enjoy watching your garden thrive and flourish but you'll also have the satisfaction of seeing your kitchen waste get recycled too. In just five easy steps, we'll show

Start to spray roses that are vulnerable to disease FlowersPlant herbs in decorative potsPull up soil around the developing shoots of early potatoesStart sowing salad crops at regular 3-4 week intervalsFruit & vegPlant up containers with summer beddingSow French